Melaina's mother was right. She did keep the baby and her belly swelled as the months went on. The girl kept in touch with Marius and she finally met his fiancèe, Cosette. She was the girl that Melaina spotted Marius looking at the day before the Rebellion. The two looked so in love as the trio chatted over tea and crepes. Cosette was walking among the backyard, looking at Jehan's flowers that Melaina planted. Melaina felt Marius's hand on hers and she looked up at him.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm still a little sick, but better." She said as her gaze slipped towards her tea. Her hands held her swollen belly and she swallowed nervously.

"That's not what I meant, Melaina." His voice said softly and she felt his fingers squeeze hers. Melaina looked over at Cosette, who looked so carefree, who didn't carry the scars of war in her heart. Melaina licked her lips and turned back to the only friend she had.

"It is not something I'm ever going to get better from." She said slowly, making sure she made sense.

"I understand. Listen, Cosette and I have been talking and we want you to be at the wedding."

"When is it?"

"We decided on February 16th."

"Only a month away."

"Yes, we didn't want to wait too long." Melaina slowly looked up at the man and she nodded.

"I would be enjoyed to go." Marius's smile didn't reach his eyes, but it was enough for Melaina.

"Thank you, Melaina." Marius said as he squeezed her fingers gently before pulling away. Cosette was walking back towards them with a rose in her fingers, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders.

"The flowers are lovely, Melaina." She said as she placed the rose on the flower. Melaina's eyes watched her ring sparkle in the light and her fingers placed themselves on the flower's petals.

"Thank you. Jehan... he loved roses of all kinds. He's the one that taught me everything I know about gardening." And poetry. But Melaina didn't want to delve into that. It was hard speaking of Jehan when Melaina regretted not spending so much time with the poet. She watched as Cosette nodded and the two talked in quiet tones as Marius listened, his eyes seemed far away.

"Only a month away," Melaina whispered to herself as her hands held her belly protectively. She was seven months pregnant now and during the wedding, she would be eight. Her mother refused that her daughter would work until she was better. In both health and mind, really. Melaina thought that she would get better soon, but knew that she would always be in pain after what had happened. Melaina changed into a black dress and made her way towards the graveyard. Even when she was ill she would always find time to go to their graves, keeping her promise.

Instead of kneeling, Melaina would lean against the stone instead.

"Hello, Enjolras." She whispered as her hand moved across the stone. It felt rough between her fingers and she scratched her nails on it.

"Marius invited me to his wedding today. I finally met Cosette, too. She's not as bad as you thought she was. Marius misses all of you and I think he would love to be the godfather to our child. What do you think?" She let the question linger in the air before she laughed again.

"I'm sure he would love it," She replied to herself softly and she felt something press gently against her stomach. The baby responded with a kick which made Melaina suck in a breath.

There's no such thing as ghosts, Melaina. She thought to herself as she shook her head. She talked to her husband's stone a while longer before kissing it and walking over to the others.

Melaina told Jehan about his flowers, how she kept Feuilly's fans in boxes for him. Melaina admitted to Courfeyrac that she tried reading his romance novels, but they were too raunchy for her taste. Combeferre's books and Joly's notes were mixed together in her little bookcase in her room... their room. She kissed the rest of the stones and walked back to her flat, her head slightly lifted.

"Oh, Melaina! I'm so excited for you!" Leilla said happily as her hands moved through the dresses in her closet. She was helping Melaina pick out the dress for the wedding and this was the most animated the girl had been.

"Leilla, you're going as well." Melaina said as Julia curled her hair up.

"But, you're going too! I just hope a dress fits you. It must be hard finding outfits when you're getting bigger."

"Leilla!"

"I'm kidding, mama!" Melaina heard a laugh slip through her lips. It was the first time that she had laughed in awhile.

"Melaina, are you sure you're only having one child? You look as if you're carrying two." Julia asked as she helped her daughter in law dress in a navy blue dress. She refused her wearing black on such a happy occasion.

"I'm not sure, really. But two? Twins don't run in your family, Julia."

"Mmm.." was all that she responded as Leilla brought out her flats for Melaina to slip into.

The wedding was something grand and Marius's grandfather paid for the whole thing. The couple came over to Melaina during the reception and Cosette took her hands.

"Marius and I have been talking and we're wondering if you would want to live with us after we move from Marius's grandfather's." The question or offer shocked Melaina and she had to think about it for a few minutes before she shook her head.

"That's such a generous offer, but no, thank you." Cosette's face fell, but she nodded slowly before kissing Melaina on the cheek and leaving with Marius. Melaina watched Leilla twirl with a few young men of her age and Melaina felt someone looking at her. Turning her head to her left, she saw a young man that seemed to be of her age looking at her over his glass of wine. Their eyes met for a few seconds before he raised his glass in a silent toast and disappeared into the crowd. Melaina looked down at her hands which were twisted together and she twisted her engagement ring around her finger. She never took off either ring and remembered how he wanted her to promise that she would remarry. Never.

Melaina peeked over her shoulder and she saw the man look at her again. His eyes were hooded from his dark brown hair and his eyes were a startling blue. Not as blue as his... but... still blue. No, Melaina, stop! She jerked her head away and took a deep breath. She drank some watered down wine and left with the rest of the guests. Melaina's mother, Leilla, and Julia made their way home.

"I'm going to stay with you for a bit more, dear." Her mother said as she walked in behind her daughter. Melaina kissed the two women goodbye and she closed the door.

"Mama, you don't need to."

"This is the last time we're talking about it, Melaina. I'm staying."

"Yes, Mama."

"Melaina, there's a letter for you."

"Who's it from, Mama?" The girl was trying to finish her breakfast of toast and tea. It was the only thing that she could keep down these past few days. She heard her mother's footsteps as she entered the kitchen. Melaina looked up to see her mother place a letter next to her saucer.

"Do you know a Monsieur Beauchene?" Her mother asked as she sat next to her daughter and took her left hand. She still had the engagement and wedding ring on, the stones glittering in the soft light.

"I do not." She stated simply as she took the letter from the table and opened the seal. Her eyes skimmed over the fancy scrawl that took her a few times to read.

Dear Mademoiselle Alon ne Enjolras,

My deepest regards to your husband's and friend's passings. If there is any way I can comfort you, please let me know. My apologies since I have not introduced myself. I am Marius's elder cousin and I wish to make your acquaintance. I'm the one who silently toasted you during the wedding. I must say that the dress you wore suited you very well. I might make a visit in a few day's time if that pleases you. Reply soon.

Acel Beauchene.

Melaina's eyes skimmed over the letter once more before she placed it gently on the table. Her mother was watching her, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"Well?"

"He wishes to visit one day. He and Marius are related."

"Melaina, he might be a suitor."

"I told you that I'm not re-marrying, Mama."

"It's not suitable for a girl your age to be a single mother."

"Everyone knows that Alexander and I were married. It's not like my child is going to be born out of wedlock." She placed her hansds gingerly on her stomach, as if protecting her baby from the words.

"At least see what happens with Acel."

"I'll see." The girl said stiffly and took a piece of parchment and quill before scribbling out a quick letter. She told him that it would be best if he came over at the end of the week. Maybe for some tea and biscuits. As she folded the letter in half, Melaina was wondering if she was doing the right thing. She passed the letter over to her Mama who gave her a bright smile. Melaina turned away as her face flushed from embarrassment. Melaina didn't want her mother's hopes to get up. It was tea and biscuits. Nothing more.

"I do hope I am not intruding." Acel told her mother as he sat down with his ankles crossed as Melaina joined him shortly with two cups of tea.

"Oh, no, no! You're fine, Monsieur Beauchene. Melaina wanted the visit to be sooner rather than later. It's her condition, you know."

"Yes... her condition. How are you feeling, Melaina?"

"Fine, thank you." She said in a short tone with a purse to her lips. Her mother clicked her tongue against her teeth and gave Melaina a short glare.

"That wasn't very nice-"

"He's just a friend, Mama! Leave me alone." Melaina said as she got up, unsteadily, and left the room with as much grace as she could muster. She could hear her mother's voice stammering out an apology while Monsieur Beauchene accepted it with good help. That bastard. Melaina thought as she opened a door and walked into the room.

(I'm sorry each part was short. I was getting writer's block and wanted it to go along to get to my main point.)